Lobelia plant named ‘Weslobigblue’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Lobelia plant named ‘Weslobigblue’, characterized by its cascading and rounded plant habit; short internodes, dense and bushy plant form; vigorous growth habit; dark green leaves; and large intense blue-colored flowers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lobelia plant, botanically known as Lobelia erinus L., and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Weslobigblue’.

The new Lobelia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Sudlohn-Oeding, Germany. The new Lobelia originated from a cross made by the Inventor of the Lobelia cultivar ‘Azuro’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,758, as the female, or seed, parent with the Lobelia cultivar ‘Wesstar’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 09/324,081, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Lobelia was selected by the Inventor in 1998 on the basis of its large flowers.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken at Sudlohn-Oeding, Germany, has shown that the unique features of this new Lobelia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar ‘Weslobigblue’ have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, daylength, and fertility level without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Weslobigblue’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Weslobigblue’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Cascading and rounded plant habit.

2. Short internodes, dense and bushy plant form.

3. Vigorous growth habit.

4. Dark green leaves.

5. Large intense blue-colored flowers.

Plants of the cultivar ‘Weslobigblue’ are most similar to plants of the male parent, the cultivar ‘Wesstar’. However in side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Sudlohn-Oeding, Germany, plants of the cultivar ‘Weslobigblue’ and the cultivar ‘Wesstar’ differ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Lobelia have longer lateral branches than plants of the cultivar ‘Wesstar’.

2. Plants of the new Lobelia have shorter internodes than plants of the cultivar ‘Wesstar’.

3. Plants of the new Lobelia have larger flowers than plants of the cultivar ‘Wesstar’.

Plants of the cultivar ‘Weslobigblue’ can also be compared to plants of the female parent, the cultivar ‘Azuro’. However in side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Sudlohn-Oeding, Germany, plants of the cultivar ‘Weslobigblue’ and the cultivar ‘Azuro’ differ in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Lobelia have longer lateral branches and are larger than plants of the cultivar ‘Azuro’.

2. Plants of the new Lobelia have larger flowers than plants of the cultivar ‘Azuro’.

3. Plants of the new Lobelia have longer peduncles than plants of the cultivar ‘Azuro’.

4. Flower color of plants of the new Lobelia is more intense blue than flower color of plants of the cultivar ‘Azuro’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photogaphs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Lobelia.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘Weslobigblue’ grown in a hanging basket.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Wesstar’ (left) and ‘Weslobigblue’ (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following descrition, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants were grown under greenhouse conditions which closely approximate commercial production conditions during the spring in Sudlohn-Oeding, Germany. Plants used for this description were grown as one plant per 12-cm container or three plants per 25-cm hanging basket container and were about 20 weeks from planting.

Botanical classification: Lobelia erinus L. cultivar ‘Weslobigblue’.

Parentage:

Female parent.—Lobelia erinus L. cultivar ‘Azuro’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,758.

Male parent.—Lobelia erinus L. cultivar ‘Wesstar’, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 09/324,081.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.

Time to initiate and develop roots.—About two weeks at 18 to 20° C.

Root description.—Fine, fibrous, and well-branched.

Plant description:

Form.—Cascading and rounded flowering perennial plants with intense blue-colored flowers. Lateral shoots outwardly spreading; plants uniform and eventually become spherical in plant shape. Freely branching with lateral branches forming at every node; dense and bushy. Appropriate for 12-cm containers and 25-cm hanging basket containers.

Usage.—Appropriate for hanging baskets, window boxes and patio containers.

Crop time.—About 10 weeks are required to produce finished flowering plants in 12-cm containers.

Plant height (soil level to top of plant plane).—About 15 cm.

Plant length (soil level to lateral branches apices).—About 80 cm.

Plant diameter.—About 20 cm.

Vigor.—Vigorous growth habit.

Lateral branch description.—Length: About 40 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Internode length: About 1.5 to 3 cm. Cross-section: Square. Texture: Smooth. Color: 137B.

Foliage description.—Leaves simple, alternate. Aspect: Mostly flat. Texture: Smooth. Basal leaves: Length: About 3.2 cm. Width: About 1.4 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Slightly crenate. Petiole length: About 7 mm. Mid-plant leaves: Length: About 4.6 cm. Width: About 2.4 cm. Shape: Obovate to almost rounded. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Crenate. Petiole length: About 1 cm. Apical leaves: Length: About 3.7 cm. Width: About 8 mm. Shape: Linear to oblanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Slightly dentate. Petiole length: Petioles not observed. Color, all leaves: Young foliage, upper surface: 146A to 146B. Young foliage, lower surface: 147C. Mature foliage, upper surface: 147A; veins, 146A. Mature foliage, lower surface: 147C; veins, 146A.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Large flowers arranged singly at lateral apices. Flowers held outwardly. Flowers persistent. Older flowers are overgrown by new flowers and foliage. Freely and continuously flowering. Flowers not fragrant.

Flower shape.—Tubular with three larger lower petals and two upright petals.

Natural flowering season.—Spring until frost in the autumn.

Flower longevity on the plant.—Longevity of individual flowers is highly dependent on weather conditions. Typically three to 10 days.

Flower size.—Diameter: About 2.5 cm. Depth (height): About 2.4 cm. Tube length: About 9 mm. Throat diameter, distal end: About 6 mm. Tube diameter, proximal end: About 4 mm.

Peduncle.—Strength: Flexible and wiry, flowers held outwardly. Length: About 2.9 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Color: 146A.

Flower buds.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Shape: Oblong. Color (during development): Base, 94B becoming 96B; mid-section, 130D becoming 96C; apex, 122A becoming 94A.

Petals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five petals, fused; three larger lower petals and two smaller upper petals. Three lower petals: Shape: Elliptic. Length, above throat: About 1.6 cm. Width: About 8.5 mm. Two upper petals: Shape: Oblong. Length, above throat: About 1 cm. Width: About 2.3 mm. Upper and lower petals: Apex: Cuspidate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth, satiny. Color: Petal, upper surface, when opening: 96A. Petal, lower surface, when opening: 96D. Petal, upper surface, opened flower: 96A to 96B; fading to 96C. Petal, lower surface, opened flower: 96C to 96D. Throat: White, 155D, background with dark bluish purple, close to 95A, spots and two greenish yellow, close to 153B, basal stripes.

Sepals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five sepals, star-shaped. Length: About 1.3 cm. Width: About 1.8 mm. Shape: Narrowly lanceolate to needle-like. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth. Color: Upper surface: 146A. Lower surface: 147A.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About five, fused. Filament color: 96D to 97D. Anther length: About 2.5 mm. Anther diameter: About 1.25 mm. Anther color: 201A with short white pubescence. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 3B. Pistils: Quantity: One. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Stigma shape: Two kidney-shaped parts, fused, rounded. Stigma color: 83B with pubescence. Style length: About 7.5 mm. Style color: 146C. Ovary color: 146A.

Seed.—Seed production has not been observed.

Disease resistance: Plants of the new Lobelia have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens common to Lobelia.

Weather tolerance: Plants of the new Lobelia have exhibited good tolerance to rain and wind. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lobelia plant named ‘Weslobigblue’, as illustrated and described. 